Extensible splint



Nov. 23, 1954 J. L. PERRY EXTENSIBLE SPLINT Filed May 25, 1952 INVENTORJohn L Pmy ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent EXTENSIBLE SPLINT John L. Perry, Grand Junction,Colo. Application May 23, 1952, Serial No. 289,510 2 Claims. (Cl.128-87) This invention relates to improvements in splints for supportingand immobilizing injured limbs of the human body.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved splintwhich is simple in construction, which is easy to apply to an injuredlimb, and which is jointed extensible to different efiective lengthsthrough the addition and subtraction of sections of the splint.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved extensiblesplint device which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is sturdy inconstruction, and which is arranged so that by employing a suitablenumber of sections, the resultant splint may be made to any desiredlength, to define a supporting means for an injured limb.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a splint device constructed inaccordance with the present invention, one element of the device beingshown in full line view, and an additional element cooperativelyarranged with the first element being shown in dotted line view.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken on theline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the splintelement shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a splint device according tothe present invention, comprising an elongated rectangular fiat web orplate 12 preferably of rigid sheet material, such as masonite or thelike, having parallel longitudinal side edges 13, 13 and the respectiveend edges 14 and 15. Designated at 16, 16 are respective side railswhich are secured to the opposite side edges 13, 13 in parallelrelationship, said rails projecting beyond the end edge 14 for asubstantial distance, as shown in Figure l, and being substantiallyequal in length to the plate 12, whereby the side edges 13, 13 areexposed adjacent to the transverse end edge of plate 12, as is clearlyshown in Figure 1. The side edges 17, 17 formed in the rails 16, 16,said grooves being in opposing relationship, and the rails being securedto the side marginal portions of the plate 12 by nails 18 driven throughthe rails and the plate 12 in the manner clearly shown in Figures 1, 2and 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rails 16, 16 have rounded inner corners19. The rails are of substantial 13, 13 of the plate 12 are received ingrooves t 2,695,018 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 thickness, thus defining withthe plate 12 a recess adapted to receive the injured limb, suitablepadding being interposed between the surfaces of the splint device andthe limb. A plurality of splint elements 11 may be locked together byengaging the exposed portions of the groove 17 of one splint elementwith the exposed portions of the side edges 13, 13 of an adjacent splintelement, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, wherein an additionalsplint element 11' is thus engaged with the exposed portions of theedges 13, 13 of the splint element 11, whereby a relatively elongatedsplint element is formed.

The rails 16, 16 may be secured to the side marginal portions of theplate 12 in any suitable manner, as for example by using suitable glueor adhesive in addition to fastening devices such as the nails 18 asabove described. The side rails 16, 16 may be made of any suitablematerial, such as Wood, molded plastic material, or the like.

When the splint elements are disassembled, they may be tied together toform a compact bundle which is easy to carry or to store.

While a specific embodiment of an improved splint device has beendisclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood thatvarious modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitationsbe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A splint device comprising at least one section, said sectionconsisting of an elongated flat plate having longitudinal side edges,rails secured to said side edges, said rails having ends spacedlongitudinally from one end of the plate and end portions projectinglongitudinally beyond the other end of the plate, said rails beingthicker than said plate and having opposed outer sides spaced laterallyoutwardly beyond the related sides of the plate, and end portions of therails having facing sides provided with longitudinal grooves equallyspaced from the outer sides of said end portions and sized toaccommodate the plate of another similar splint.

2. A splint device comprising at least one section, said sectionconsisting of an elongated fiat plate having longitudinal side edges,rails secured to said side edges, said rails having ends spacedlongitudinally from one end of the plate and end portions projectinglongitudinally beyond the other end of the plate, said rails beingthicker than said plate and having opposed outer sides spaced laterallyoutwardly beyond the related sides of the plate, and end portions of therails having facing sides provided with longitudinal grooves equallyspaced from the outer sides of said end portions and sized toaccommodate the plate of another similar splint, said rails havingrounded laterally inward edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 12,997 Netherlands Sept. 15, 1925 327,628 Great BritainApr. 10, 1930

